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11.18.2012

My Favorite Things 2012- Or How Oprah Steals My Thunder

So Oprah is running her Favorite Things Show tonight.
And those who know me KNOW I will be watching.
With my snuggie and a bowl of something not so good for you.
With Finding Bigfoot taping on the DVR.What?
Oh I know.
I can see the television purists looking down there noses at me but I have extremely varied tastes when it comes to TV.
I guard my dvr list on my TV kind of like some people guard their underwear drawers.
Because it can range from Housewives to Big foots. From Curious George to some ESPN show that the hubs makes me watch.
Usually when there is nothing left to watch on DVR.
Its funny how you can learn about people from what they watch.
We had some friends over a few weeks ago and they saw the Duggars on our DVR.
And they were all, "OMG we love that show".
Huh.
Never saw that coming.

Anyhoo, Oprah is running this favorite things show tonight so in honor of it, I am making my annual Favorite Things list for you my friends.
These are items that if I were to have my own show, I would be handing out to you.
You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!
No.
More like...You get a tic tac! You get a tic tac! You get a tic tac!
The above dialogue has been used over and over on Twitter for the past few weeks.
LOVE my "tweeps' or "twangels" as I call them!
Holla!!!

So here are a few of my can't live without, gotta have items.
Maybe it will help you with some Christmas shopping for your bff's, girlfriends, blogger's who you admire....juuuuuust kidding. Maybe.

Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Good glory this is amazeballs.
I don't....gasp....drink coffee.
I know.I know.
But this hot chocolate??
So amazing.
And I guess you can get it non fat?
Not sure.
I am intimidated by the ordering process at Starbucks.
And the other customers.
So I just ask for my hot chocolate as is and nod like an idiot when they point to the different size cups.This is why I shouldn't drink coffee.
But its all good.
Walmart sells it by the can.
And I don't usually get intimidated going in there.
AND its 5 bucks a can.
Considering its 4 bucks a cup, that is a deal.
And also means I won't be losing that extra 10 pounds any time soon.

DFi Hair Wax

I have been using this hair wax since 2002 when I had the "Meg Ryan" haircut.
And I have never looked back.
My hair is thick.
Really thick.
And so it can be unruly.
This is like scotch tape.
For hair.
It makes things stick.
Without feeling sticky or greasy.
And they have cheaper alternatives too.
Don't do it.
There is a difference.
I used to get this at Ulta but they never have it in stock anymore.
So I get it on amazon now.
But try Ulta first, because you can use those coupons from their ad to make them cheaper.
This container usually runs around 12 bucks.
It used to be 8 bucks when I started using it 10 years ago.
Sheesh.

Elizabethtown

I love this movie.
So much.
We just watched it on demand the other night and fell in love all over again.
The soundtrack alone is reason to watch.
It will make you cry, hug your parents tighter and call your Aunt Flossy.
And it is probably 5 bucks on Amazon or in the Walmart bin right now.

Love Actually

OK I love this movie too.
It is a Christmas tradition with the hubs and I.
My mom and dad also watch this together at the holidays.
This is NOT for the kids.
But every couple should have their own holiday movie.
Every single year, we turn on the fireplace, get take out, get some alcoholic bev's and sit on the floor and watch this.

Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas

Now this is for the kids.And the adults.
This was a movie from when I was in elementary school.
Oh the memories this movie conjures for me.
If you buy one holiday movie this season for the family, please let it be this one.

One Line A Day Journal

I think I have added this every year to my favorite things but it is my essential fave thing.
You write a few lines about your day.
No huge commitment.
But the fun begins the next year.
When you can see what you did the year before on that exact day right above the day you are writing about.
When you have kids, this is amazing.
Every night, I read to the hubs what was going on the year before and then we start talking about it.
I love this so much.

CO Bigelow's Mentha Lip Tint

I have been using these in my purse for over five years now.
Maybe even longer.
I love this because not only does it heal chapped lips but it gives your lips color too.
Also, if you are hungry these are quite yummy to tie you over til dinner.
What?
They are.

OPI Avojuice Lotion

OMG this lotion.
It will make your hands so soft.
So soft.
Like softest ever.Ever.
And I have Godzilla skin so this is magic lotion for me.
I can never find a large bottle so I always get the little ones.
I can always find this at Ulta near the OPI nail polish.

And here are two Christmas recipes we make in our home every single year.

Peppermint Bark

My oldest and I have made this every year for her teacher as part of the teacher gift.
This is so easy to make and so good to eat.
This recipe is from Paula Deen.
I don't care if haters gon' hate but I love me some Paula.
Oh and she is in the movie Elizabethtown too.

Place candy canes in a Ziploc.
Break into small chunks.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or a bowl over a boiling pot of water.
Once melted, combine the candy canes and the chocolate.
Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
Put in fridge for 45 minutes or until firm.
Break into pieces and put in tins.
Keep refrigerated.

And our other all time favorite?

Rolo Cookies

I first got this recipe from a friend's mom who I used to clean house for.
One Christmas time, she left me a tin of these for my present.
I brought them home and we ate them all in one night.
They are amazing.
And a family fave.

Preheat oven to 375. Blend flour, cocoa and soda in a small bowl. Set aside. In another bowl, beat 1/2 C. sugar, brown sugar and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs. Beat well. Add flour mixture and blend well. Chill the dough for 10 minutes. ( I usually chill for 30 minutes)
THIS DOUGH IS VERY STICKY. So get a dish of flour to dip your hands into to work with the dough. In a small bowl, put the rest of the sugar. For each cookie, flour hands and shape a tablespoon of dough around a rolo candy. ( The kids love to help unwrapping the rolo candies. Let them! Its such a tedious job but they love that stuff.) Press one side of cookie into the sugar and place sugar side up on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

So that's my list this year!
Go get your hot chocolate, movies and cookies and have fun!

7 comments:

I love it all! Elizabethtown is one of my all time favourite movies ever. Ever. And the soundtrack is the best!! I might just have to try your peppermint bark too - sounds to die for!Thank you SO much for linking up! :)Jo-Anna

I'll have to watch Elizabethtown. I remember wanting to see it when it came out and then I never saw it. And I'll definitely keep my eye out for those lip glosses and OPI hand cream. My hands have been sooo dry since it got cold and started snowing a month ago. I complain about how dry they are every single day! Maybe every hour. lol

OMG, once I saw that you love Love Actually, I went to see Elizabethtown trailer, knowing that if you like it, I will too... Buying it on Amazon right this moment - thank you for the great Sunday evening movie recommendation!

Girl, it's not a party without you! I love bigelow lip gloss..my husband's fav too :) The recipes look SO good and now I need to see Elizabethtown...I need some good movies in my queue! Merry Christmas~thanks so much for joining us again.

Hello!

My name is Kari and I love to write about DIY on the cheap. Basically I am Martha Stewart. Without the money. Or the fancy cars. Or the hired help. Or the intricate art projects. Ok I am nothing like Martha Stewart. I'm a mom to two great girls. A wife to one amazing hubs. And the food source to one unbelieveably lucky eight year old goldfish. Welcome to our life.

I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that. - Lloyd Dobler